Engineering Education  ·  AI in Higher Education  ·  UCT

Dr. Ekaterina
Rzyankina

Bridging the precision of engineering with the science of how we learn — researching how technology transforms the making of engineers.

University of Cape Town  ·  Electrical Engineering
About
Dr. Ekaterina Rzyankina

Engineering the future of
engineering education

Dr. Ekaterina Rzyankina is a lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. Her work sits at the intersection of engineering pedagogy, digital learning technologies, and the expanding role of AI in higher education.

With a background in materials engineering — including doctoral research into the directional solidification of single crystal turbine blades — she brings a precise, empirical sensibility to the study of how students learn STEM subjects. Her current research focuses on e-textbooks as active mediational tools, blended and flipped classroom methodologies, and the systemic challenges of engineering education in South Africa.

01

AI in Higher Education

Investigating how artificial intelligence reshapes pedagogy, assessment, and the student experience across engineering programmes.

02

Digital Learning Technologies

Research on e-textbooks as interactive, mediational tools that deepen conceptual understanding in engineering mathematics and STEM.

03

Engineering Pedagogy

Examining blended and flipped learning models — and what pandemic-era disruption permanently changed about how engineering is taught.

Research

Selected Publications

Full profile on Google Scholar →
2023
Reflection on experiences of first-year engineering students with blended flipped classroom online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study of the mathematics course
With P. Basitere, M. Le Roux  ·  Sustainability 15(5491)
34cited
2013
Investigation of the effect of solidification velocity on the quality of single crystal turbine blades
With D. Szeliga, N. Mahomed, A. Nowotnik  ·  Applied Mechanics and Materials 372
20cited
2024
Enhancing conceptual understanding in engineering mathematics through e-textbooks
With F. George, Z. Simpson  ·  IEEE Transactions on Education 67(4)
13cited
2022
The impact of COVID-19 on higher education: A systematic literature review of pedagogical approaches and challenges
With R. Struthers, Y. Allsop, F. Kalelioğlu  ·  Learning with Technologies and Technologies in Learning
9cited
2022
Digital literacy practices of engineering students using e-textbooks at a University of Technology in South Africa
With Z. Simpson  ·  IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (ProComm)
7cited
2024
E-textbooks as a teaching aid at a University of Technology in South Africa: A Cultural-Historical Activity Theory analysis
Solo-authored  ·  Education Sciences 14(10)
5cited
2022
What shelfies can tell us about pandemic life
With S. Zhao, Y. Allsop, J. Rowsell  ·  Digital Culture and Education
5cited
2024
Teaching and learning STEM subjects using e-textbooks as mediational tools
Solo-authored  ·  4th International Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning in Higher Education
4cited
2024
Future-proofing STEAME education in South Africa
With A. Sheik, B.P. Nel, C. Booyse, C. February, D. Fagan, E. Mentz et al.  ·  AOSIS
4cited
2024
Bridging gaps: Enhancing holistic support in mathematics during the transition from secondary school to university
With A.M. Msomi  ·  Journal of Student Affairs in Africa 12(2)
4cited
2016
Solution heat treatment of single crystal castings of CMSX-4 nickel-base superalloy
With M. Pytel, N. Mahomed, A. Nowotnik  ·  Stellenbosch University
4cited
2013
Numerical and experimental investigation of directional solidification in vacuum investment casting of superalloys
Solo-authored  ·  Doctoral thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
4cited
2022
Exploring graduate teaching assistants in the virtual space during COVID-19 using the cultural historical activity theory perspective
With F. George  ·  Postgraduate Pedagogies 2(1)
2cited
2022
Framing identities using shelfies: Bridging private and professional spaces
With S. Zhao, J. Rowsell, Y. Allsop, N. Kucirkova, J. Wildfeuer  ·  Digital Culture and Education 14(2)
2cited
2022
Transition to online pedagogy during Covid-19: Reflecting on experiences and perceptions of lecturers and students
With F. George, R. Govender, A.H.M. Jacobs  ·  Critical Reflections on Professional Learning During Covid-19
2cited
2026
Learning to teach mathematics
Solo-authored  ·  Preparedness to teach: Learning to teach in foundation phase classrooms
1cited
2025
Network visualisation analysis of the transformative potential of generative AI tools in the education landscape
With R. Govender, A. Bayaga, I. Harun  ·  Discover Education 4(1)
1cited
2025
Lessons learnt and insights shared: The Diagnostic Mathematics Information for Student Retention and Success (DMISRS) case studies dialogue on teaching first-year mathematics
With S. Steyn, T. Sango, L. Boshoff, A. Campbell, F. George, V. Govender, D. Hove et al.  ·  Perspectives in Education 43(4)
1cited
2024
Digital literacy practices: Curation and annotation associated with e-textbooks
With A.M. Msomi  ·  Journal of Educational Studies 23(4)
1cited
2024
Bridging the school-to-university transition gap in mathematics: Challenges and strategies at university
With F. George  ·  Re-imagining Mathematics in a Digital Space
1cited
2023
Problematic topics in high school mathematics requiring university mathematics: Exploring the NSC mathematics examination
With F. George  ·  AMESA
1cited
2026
Exploring primary school teachers' perceptions and approaches towards learning science: A systematic literature review
With J. Hardman  ·  South African Journal of Higher Education 40(3)
2026
AI programmatic tools: Exploring an evolution of e-textbooks in higher education
With S. Kenny  ·  Cultural-Historical Psychology 22(1)
2026
Cultural-historical reflection on learning, place, and legacy of Vygotsky
With Y.S. Vitko, D.N.G. Pereira, D.R. Gomes, G.D. Emelin et al.  ·  Cultural-Historical Psychology 22(1)
2026
Exploring first-year students' computer literacy through a two-step cluster analysis approach
With R.N. Prince
2025
How engineering students use STEM e-textbooks
Solo-authored  ·  Journal of Education (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
2024
Digital literacy practices in school learners: Exploring curation and annotation with e-textbooks
With A.M. Msomi  ·  AMESA — Reimagining Mathematics in a Digital Space
2024
Proceedings of Table Mountain Delta 2023, the 14th Delta Conference on the Teaching and Learning of Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics
With A. Campbell, D. Holgate, B. Mofolo-Mbokane  ·  University of Cape Town
2024
South Africa needs more nautical scientists and marine engineers — if you love the sea these may be the careers for you
Solo-authored  ·  The Conversation Africa
2024
Digital textbooks expand learning for engineering students — South African study
Solo-authored  ·  The Conversation Africa
2024
Digital literacy practices of engineering students and lecturers using e-textbooks at a University of Technology in South Africa
Solo-authored
2022
Using ATLAS.ti to collect, manage and analyse literature in research projects
With Z. Simpson  ·  IEEE IFEES World Engineering Education Forum (workshop)
2022
Editorial: What shelfies can tell us about pandemic life
With Y. Allsop, S. Zhao  ·  Digital Culture & Education 14(2)
2021
Perceptions of multimodal online instruction during a national lockdown: Exploring the blended continuum
With F. George  ·  Blended Learning in Engineering Education
2019
Enhancing the student role in the feedback process by applying a semantics approach
Solo-authored  ·  University of the Witwatersrand (dissertation)
2019
Influence of feedback on assessment by using semantic learning waves
Solo-authored  ·  University of the Witwatersrand (dissertation)
2019
Designing authentic assessment in engineering education
Solo-authored  ·  Eighth Research in Engineering Education Symposium
2005
Production of titanium sponge
Solo-authored  ·  The young science of Verhnekamiya (Perm)
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Institution University of Cape Town
Department Electrical Engineering
Research Google Scholar profile
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